Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre one step closer

10 November 2011

Construction starting on the state's $1 billion new Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) is one step closer with a decision to appoint a preferred bidder, the Plenary Health consortium.

The government now intends to move quickly to finalise the arrangements, with the next key milestone in the project, contract signing, expected to be achieved in late November 2011.

Once built, the VCCC will be a world-class cancer centre that accelerates the translation of research into new and innovative treatment, trains Victoria's cancer specialists and provides a centre of excellence for all Victorians affected by cancer.

The VCCC aspires to be one of the best comprehensive cancer centres in the world through the collaboration of recognised leaders in cancer research, treatment and care.

It will be the new home for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and will link with existing cancer services at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Women's Hospital, the Royal Children's Hospital, Western Health and St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne.

Other member organisations at the VCCC include the University of Melbourne and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

The new VCCC, which will become a prominent landmark in Melbourne's bio-medical Parkville precinct, will accommodate the following clinical facilities:

• 160 overnight inpatient cancer beds
• 42-bed Intensive Care Unit
• 110 same day beds
• a dedicated Clinical Trials Unit with 24 treatment places
• eight medihotel beds, with additional space for country patient overnight accommodation
• eight operating theatres and two procedure rooms
• eight radiation therapy bunkers.

The new VCCC also includes dedicated space to house an estimated 1,200 cancer researchers. Education and training will be key functions of the VCCC, in addition to the provision of cancer treatment.

Further information

To find out more about the project, visit the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre website.